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'Carmageddon II' I-405 Freeway Closure Scheduled for September

The second 10-mile closure of both directions of the Los Angeles I-405 over the Sepulveda Pass, popularly known as "Carmageddon II," has been scheduled for Sept. 29-30, when contractors will demolish the remaining side of the Mulholland Bridge.

Motorists throughout the State of California are advised to "plan ahead, avoid the area" to avoid generating extreme congestion in the project area and throughout the greater Los Angeles region.

The I-405 is the nation's busiest freeway and will be closed in both directions for 53 consecutive hours between the I-10 and U.S. 101. Half a million motorists drive this portion of the I-405 over a typical weekend.

On Friday, Sept. 28, ramps along the 10-mile closure area will begin to be shut down as early as 7 p.m., and closure of individual freeway lanes will begin at 10 p.m. to ensure full freeway closure by midnight. The closure is scheduled to continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning, Oct. 1. Ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m. During this closure, the Mulholland Bridge, I-405 freeway and access ramps will be closed.

As with the previous I-405 closure, Sepulveda Blvd. is intended as an alternate route for local resident access only. It does not have the capacity to accommodate both local and diverted freeway traffic. Motorists should instead use alternate regional freeway routes to completely bypass the area. These include the 5, 15, 23, 55, 57, 101, 118, 126, 210, 605 and 710 freeways.

Drivers who must travel during that weekend are advised to plan ahead, monitor real-time traffic conditions prior to beginning their trips, and follow alternate routes that are provided. Motorists will be informed of the closure in advance by Caltrans-operated freeway message signs with coverage extending into neighboring counties and other metropolitan regions throughout the state.

The demolition and reconstruction of the Mulholland Bridge is required to widen the freeway as part of the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project. The $1 billion, 10-mile northbound carpool lane construction project is a joint effort between Metro and Caltrans, and is being constructed by Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. It is scheduled for completion in 2013.